Worship Arts

Below is information regarding the Arts in the Unitarian Church of LIncoln. If you have further questions, please contact Julie Enersen, Worship Arts Director.

Youth Opportunities Adult Opportunities
Flicker Choir (Preschool) Unitarian Choir
Flame Choir (Kdg. - Gr. 3) UU Wind Ensemble
Chalice Choir (Gr. 4 & up) Member Musicians
Flash! Youth Band (Gr. 6 & up) Guest Musicians
One-Hour Choir One-Hour Choir
Drama Club The A Street Band

Drama Club

The first-ever UU Drama Club will begin on January 10. Children in kindergarten and up are invited to be part of it!

Evelyn Weymouth, a church member who ran a children’s theatre program in Michigan prior to coming to Lincoln, will be leading the group. The Drama Club will meet on Sundays from 11:15 AM — 12 noon beginning January 10 and will culminate with the presentation of a service on Sunday, Feb. 14. Every aspect of the service (readings, announcements, Joys & Concerns, skit, movement piece, etc.) will be done by the children. There are opportunities for kids of all ages to be involved in lots of ways.

To register your child(ren) for the UU Drama Club, simply fill out the short online registration form found here.

UU Drama Club dates:

Youth Choirs

We currently offer three choir experiences for our children and one band for our middle school students. Click here to see the Youth Arts Photo Gallery!

The Spring Session of Youth Choirs will begin April 11. The Chalice and Flame Choirs will combine to present songs on Apr. 18 and May 9.

Spring Session Dates:

 

The Flicker Choir, comprised of preschool singers, meets in the preschool room duringfirst 5-10 minutes of RGL time on Sundays. Students depart from the auditorium and gather on the rug in their room for some singing. Sarah Rose and Trish Lanning share the responsibility of working with the preschoolers.

 

 

The Flame Choir (Kdg. - Gr. 3) meets from 11:15 - 11:45 on Youth Arts Sundays. Shelly Fowler directs the group and is assisted by Sarah Rose and Trish Lanning. Singers report to the Music Room at 11:15 for ten minutes of group singing before their individual choir practice begins.

 

 

The Chalice Choir (Gr. 4 and up) meets from 11:15-11:45 on Youth Arts Sundays. Julie Enersen directs the group with the assistance of pianist/singer Barb Brant and percussionist Bob Haack. Singers report to the Music Room at 11:15 for ten minutes of group singing before their individual choir practice begins.

 

 

Youth Choir Leaders:

Julie Enersen Shelly Fowler

Sarah Rose Trish Lanning


Flash! (Youth Band/Percussion — Gr. 6 and up)

Flash! (Gr. 6 and up) has used percussion, vocalized sounds and non-traditional instruments to create their own pieces. This year, they will be starting to utilize some of their "real" instruments as they prepare to share some songs at the Feb. 14 Friendship Service. Flash! is led by local jazz performer and church member, Nancy Marshall.

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The Unitarian Choir

The Unitarian Choir, which sings at one Sunday service a month, is open to all of our members & friends. Singers who reading music are encouraged to come to the rehearsals in the church auditorium. Dates and times will be listed in the newsletter. The group also performs at local retirement and nursing homes (pictured with youth choirs at right) as part of an ongoing musical outreach to the community.

Upcoming choir rehearsals:

Jan. 6 & 13 — 7 PM rehearsals
Jan. 17 — 8:30 AM rehearsal, 10 AM service

Feb. 10 & 17 — 7 PM rehearsals
Feb. 21 — 8:30 AM rehearsal, 10 AM service

Mar. 3 & 10 — 7 PM rehearsals
Mar. 14 — 8:30 AM rehearsal, 10 AM service

Apr. 7 & 14, 7 PM rehearsals
Apr. 18 — 8:30 AM rehearsal, 10 AM service

May 26 & June 2 — 7 PM rehearsals
June 6 — 8:30 AM rehearsal, 10 AM service

UU Wind Ensemble

The UU Wind Ensemble meets regularly and welcomes new members, both youth and adults, with various levels of experience: from those dusting off instruments that have been stored too long to those who have picked up an instrument well enough to play sheet music to those who are confident enough to noodle around a little. Although the ensemble is composed primarily of woodwind instruments, brass and string players are welcome too. Please contact Rachel S. (802-2592, cleocatra45@yahoo.com) for further information.

The A Street Band

Our house band, The A Street Band, is comprised of church members who enjoy playing contemporary music including folk, jazz, and rock. They provide music for our church services and social events. Musicians and singers interested in making music with the band should contact Roger at geeryznk@inebraska.com

 

 

 

The One-Hour Choir Singers of all ages participate in the One-Hour Choir.

The One-Hour Choir is a self-contained, show-up-that morning, open-to-all experience that happens 3-4 times a year. When it's scheduled, singers show up Sunday morning at 9:00, rehearse one or two songs and then sing in the service. The choir is for folks whose schedules are not compatible with the committed, Wednesday-night choir rehearsal routine. It's for folks whose situations don't allow them to plan or commit to much of anything ahead. It's for families who would enjoy singing together. It's for folks who enjoy singing, but only if the music is simple and the atmosphere is casual.

Starting at 9:00, the group practices a song or two chosen to be comfortably learned and polished in the rehearsal period. Ability to read music, or even read words, is NOT required since the songs are mainly taught by rote (repetition). The group adds harmony, if it wants to, or stays in unison, if it needs to. After a short break, The One-Hour Choir regroups and proudly sings at the 10:00 service. That's all there is to it!

Guest Musicians

Our worship services are greatly enhanced by the participation of talented local musicians. Below is a partial listing of the musicians who have shared their talents with us on Sunday mornings:

Allemande String QuartetDennis Taylor
Ashanti, African drums
John Bailey, flute
Peter Bouffard, guitar
Early Music Society
Carole Goebes, flute & recorder
Great Plains Chamber Winds
Dean Haist, trumpet
Doane Brass Quintet
Steve Hanson, mandolin
Gerald Holbrook, piano
Mary Howell, flute
The Huntington Trio
Terry Keefe, violin & mandolin
Amy Keller, guitarDoane Brass Quintet
Phil Jones, digeridoo
Tom Larsen, jazz piano
Jessica Lindsey, clarinet
Kate Logan, guitar
Ed Love, sax
Nicole Narboni, piano
Chantry Nelson, oboe
Margaret Nelson, harp
The OK Chorale, vocal quartet
The Potscrubbers, bluegrass

Frank Restesan, violin
Ric Rickers, French horn

Jack Rinke, piano
Justin Roth, guitar and vocals
Karen Sandene, bassoon
Kusi Taki, Anden folk music
Anne Sheedy, Celtic flute
Spitfire Fiddle Band
William Stibor, tenor
Dennis Taylor, guitar
Third Chair Chamber Players
C.A. Waller, blues guitar

Member Musicians

We are fortunate to have church members who are accomplished musicians. Below is a partial listing of those members who have enriched our services with their musical talents:

Jim Baker, tenor
Barb Brant, piano and vocals
Cynthia Buchholz, harpsichord
Bill Carpenter, piano
Celeste Case-Ruchala, clarinet
Judy Cole, mezzo-soprano
Michele Dobszewicz, drums
Julie Enersen, vocals
Roger Geery, mandolin
Julie Huddle, flute
Lynn Janese, guitar and vocals
Kate Marley, cello
Paul Nance, violin
Sophia Potter, cello
Bruce Raymer, bass
Chris Sayre, folk musician
Becky Seth, piano
Dick Seymour, piano
Deb Stephen, vocals
Zeb Taylor, vocals
Keri Waddingham, mezzo-soprano
Sandra Washington, vocals

Bill Zieg, piano
The Unitarian Church Choir
The One-Hour Choir
The UU Wind Ensemble